A Little Walk With God

A daily devotional through the Bible narrated as if walking through the garden east of Eden with God. Scriptures come from a daily reading plan that take you through the Bible in one year, generally coming from The Voice. Our website is http://alittlewalkwithgod.com or http://richardagee.com

What stories do you tell those you want to win to Christ? Are they believable? Sometimes Jesus’ stories weren’t very believable. So what should we do?

Scripture

John 8:49-58

Jesus: I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice. I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death.

Jews: We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets—are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are?

Jesus: If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,” but you are not in relationship with Him. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says. Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming.

Jews: You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham?

Jesus: I tell you the truth; I AM before Abraham was born.

Devotional

I grew up in the church. I’ve heard these scriptures all my life. I believe them. God’s spirit touches mine and I know they are true because of it. He has proven Himself to me over and over. But imagine hearing these words coming from Jesus for the first time.

These men didn’t want to believe Him

Uneducated carpenter’s son

Doesn’t follow their rules

Disrupts the religious order of the day

He’s talking about something they cannot comprehend

Everyone dies, so His words don’t make sense to them

Compares Himself with God

Sometimes we forget most of the world today has not heard the story

Less that 50% of Americans claim any religious affiliation

Christianity pushed into the background and even considered hate speech in some circles

Stories are still confusing and unbelievable as they were in Jesus’ day

Miracles

Resurrection

Never die

Why do I mention this?

Our mission is to go and make disciples

Need to know the mindset of those to whom we speak

They will sometimes be unaware of the language you speak

They may have no concept of the things you take for granted as a believer

They may think your stories about Jesus are fantasy and as real as Star Wars

They need to hear about the change in your life and see the difference He makes every day for you

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

Two languages = bilingual; three languages = trilingual; one language = American

Scripture

John 8:42-27)

Jesus: I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me. You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice. You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies. So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me. If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?

Devotional

I’ve lived in San Antonio, Texas for almost 18 years. Almost 65% of the population is hispanic so Spanish is a prevalent language in the city and surrounding area. In fact, in many retail stores in the area, you must be bilingual to work there. This isn’t a discussion about whether that is good or bad, right or wrong, just a fact of when and where I live today.

Despite living here almost 18 years i don’t speak and understand very little Spanish

I hear it everywhere. I see it everywhere, but I just don’t get it.

Contrast with my living in Germany for just three years while I was in the service.

Lived on the economy, not on a military installation

Landlords didn’t speak English

Spoke and wrote passable German within a few months and fairly fluent before we left country; primary language for my four year old

Thought about those two difference in understanding languages when I read Jesus’ words

I wanted to learn German

Although it would be helpful, my heart isn’t into learning Spanish

I took the time and energy to learn the language and listen to those around me; I asked questions when I didn’t understand

I mostly ignore the Spanish I hear around me unless I need to hear something specific from someone who doesn’t speak English; I seldom ask questions about words or phrases

Same is true in a sense with spiritual language

Do we listen to the language God speaks to us through His words?

Love

Grace

Mercy

Or do we ignore it because we’re just not interested in know what He is saying, much the way I treat the Spanish I hear around me

So the issue at hand. There are two spiritual languages. One comes from God, who speaks only the truth, the other comes from the father of lies. Listen again to the questions and comments Jesus had for the Jews around Him that day. They are just as applicable to us.

I come from the one True God, and I’m not here on My own. He sent Me on a mission. If God were your Father, you would know that and would love Me. You don’t even understand what I’m saying. Do you? Why not? It is because You cannot stand to hear My voice. You are just like your true father, the devil; and you spend your time pursuing the things your father loves. He started out as a killer, and he cannot tolerate truth because he is void of anything true. At the core of his character, he is a liar; everything he speaks originates in these lies because he is the father of lies. So when I speak truth, you don’t believe Me. If I speak the truth, why don’t you believe Me? If you belong to God’s family, then why can’t you hear God speak? The answer is clear; you are not in God’s family. I speak truth, and you don’t believe Me. Can any of you convict Me of sin?

Can you hear His voice and understand His words? If not, you might want to check the language you’re speaking.

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

Do you ever flatter anyone? Do you know the highest form of flattery? Let's talk about it.

Scripture

John 8:39-41

Jesus: If you are truly Abraham’s children, then act like Abraham! From what I see you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that comes from the Father. This is not something Abraham would do, but you are doing what you have learned from your father.

Devotional

In 1820, Charles Caleb Colton wrote “imitation is the sincerest of flattery.” Although something similar appeared in the biography of Emperor Marcus Antoninus by Jeremy Collier in 1708 when the quoted the Emperor as saying, “you should consider that imitation is the most acceptable part of worship and that the gods had much rather mankind should resemble, than flatter them.”

Often told imitate habits of successful people

Rise early

Plan well ahead

Pay attention to detail

Anticipate problems and develop contingencies to deal with them

Share success but own failure

Read broadly

Learn something every day

Wouldn’t expect to be successful if you did just the opposite

Lazy

Just let things happen

Never thought through ways to recover from failure

Push everyone away

Blame everyone else for your own mistakes

We become very much like the people we imitate, whether we want to believe that or not

Business

Parenting

husband/wife act like father/mother

Friendships

Spiritual life

Who are you watching to pattern your life?

Jews said they patterned after Abraham, but just progeny; long dead

Watched someone else

Greed

Pride

Selfishness

Who do you watch? Who is your example?

Accountability to peer

Need human mentors

Do they try their best to mimic Christ

Accept failure

Repent

Own frailty

Lean heavily on God

Know what real success means

Know priorities in life

Song titled “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

Watch Him

Anyone between you and Him is closer to Him than you are

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

There are few true monarchies any more. Most are democracies with a monarch as a head of state, like in Great Britain or Monaco. But we are fascinated by their ancestry, who is next in line for the throne, the hidden secrets of the royal family. We love stories about the palace, don’t we?

Scripture

John 8:34-36

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.

Devotional

Even in America, we get a lot of buzz about Prince William and Kate. They have revitalized the monarchy in Great Britain in the last few years. Every generation of the monarchy, tracing its history back to Egbert of Wessex reign about 800, looks for that first born son to rule as king of the united empire.

See the authority used wisely and foolishly

Always in the news

People are interested in their lives because their lives influence them in a direct way

Much more so in the past than today, but still they play an important role in the politics of the nation as the head of state for the country

Everyone keeps up with the descendants

Who is next in line if something happens to William?

What if both he and his brother died at or near the same time?

Who is next in line for the throne?

What is their character and how will they lead?

Not so anxious for Charles to take the throne, but excited for William to lead because of his appeal to the common people.

King carries tremendous weight in a monarchy

We don’t understand it in our democracy

We elect representatives to write and execute our laws on our behalf

True monarchies have a king that decides it all. The king rules.

He determines who lives and dies and how people progress between those two points of birth and death

Generally the kingdom passes down to the heir unless overthrown in battle or he abdicates the throne for personal or political reasons

Those listening to Jesus thought they could stand on their pedigree, their ancestry as descendants of Abraham to do as they please just as a prince might extend his rights because of his position to the throne.

Jesus stops their argument

Commands come from the real King of kings, creator

Jesus, His son has power they do not have because they are only human, not divine

The question is who is your father? God or Abraham? Heavenly or earthly? Divine or human? Who do you follow? Your choice

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

Have you ever considered just how many laws we must follow every day? Some are so old and archaic they don’t just border on the ridiculous, they fell off the cliff long ago. Here are a couple to consider: It is illegal to milk another person’s cow. The entire Encyclopedia Britannica is banned in Texas because it contains a formula for making beer at home. It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel. Talk about imposing on our freedoms!

Scripture

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Devotional

In this country, we talk a lot about freedom. But I think sometimes we have a real misconception about what freedom really means.

Definition: 1.the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial. 2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. 3. the power to determine action without restraint. 4. political or national independence. 5. personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom. 6. exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed by from): freedom from fear. 7. the absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc.

We can define it, but can we really live within the scope of these words?

Not without infringing on the freedom of someone else except for perhaps the first, at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint

All others are illusions if we live in community with others to maintain order and preservation of the community

Look at definitions

Exemption from external control - establish laws and regulations to govern our behavior for the health and safety of the community

Power to determine action without restraint - laws and regulations restrain our actions, cannot do anything we want

Political or national independence - no nation is completely independent in today’s society, we are interdependent because of the trade, commerce, migration of people from state to state, negotiate our freedoms to avoid conflict

Personal liberty - we talk often about the loss of personal liberties: some speech today puts you in jail - hate speech; loss of religious freedoms; debates about what Second Amendment means; even where you live (codes), how much you can make (taxes), and more

Exemption from the presence of anything specified (usually followed by from): freedom from fear - often an emotion that still lingers and we cover with some tools we’ve learned

Absence of or release from ties, obligations, etc. - just as with laws and regulations, we will always live under some kind of laws as long as we live

Man’s laws are fickle and always changing, difficult to understand and impossible to follow

Follow God, His rules have never changed. Believe in Jesus for forgiveness and life. His spirit will live in you to help you live His within the laws He gives, freedom from the oppression and guilt of the laws that burden others.

Know the rules

Know the spirit of what God wants for your life

Know the truth of who God is and what He wants

Know freedom because of who you belong to and whose rules you fall under

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

How hard did you work to make your father pleased when you were a kid? I sometimes worked really hard, but often failed miserably. My early days of sitting on the front pews of the church were often accompanied by spanking for my misbehavior when I got home. Not exactly pleasing behavior, I expect.

Scripture

John 8:28-29

They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

Devotional

I’m a preacher’s kid. Growing up, my brother and I usually sat on the front seat so my dad could keep an eye on us.

Had a problem sitting still

Got in trouble almost every service

I wanted to please my father, but just had to cut up with my brother instead of paying attention to the service

I knew the rules, sit still, be quiet, and listen

I could only do that for a little while when I was in elementary school

Wanted to please, but got in trouble a lot

We’re like that with THE Father

We know the rules

We know when we are about to break them

We know what He wants from us and how He wants us to behave

Like little kids that can’t sit still, we can’t please Him sometimes

We do our own thing instead of obeying

And we get in trouble

As I matured, I learned to appreciate what the pastor was saying

First my dad

Later other pastors

I still want to please my earthly father

I want to please my heavenly Father more

Always present to help me know how to please Him

Sometimes have to guess with our earthly fathers

We think we know what they want, but we don’t

God lives with us and in us to guide us if we will listen to His voice

Earthly fathers can’t be with us all the time to help us through life and let us know what they want. God can and does

Earthly fathers change their minds and change the rules sometimes

God never does, His plan for our salvation has not changed since the beginning of time and Adam’s first sin

Do I always please Him?

No

But He always forgives when I ask in true repentance

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

Did your mom ever send your brother or sister to tell you to do something? How did you like it? That just how some people felt when Jesus came around.

Scripture

John 8:25-26

“Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

Devotional

My daughter doesn’t do it very often, but every once in awhile, she sends her oldest child to tell her younger ones to do something. “Jonathon, go tell Grayson to put on her shoes so we can go.”

Doesn’t do it often because of the backlash

Youngest doesn’t like to be told by the oldest

Both are her children

Grayson feels like an equal

Doesn’t want to hear from anyone but her mother

Certainly doesn’t think Jonathon should tell her what to do

Many of those who heard Jesus looked at Him the same way

He’s just a man

He’s the same as us

Born of a woman, eats and drinks and breathes like us

Who does He think He is telling us what to do

Just like Jonathon gets yelled at by his sister when he passes on a command from his mother, Jesus wasn’t liked by those with whom He shared the Father’s commands

He only passed on what the Father told Him to share

His words were those of the Father and His commands were those of the Father

Until people believed He truly was the Son of God, He was just another man trying to tell them what to do and they didn’t want to listen anymore than a younger child wants to listen to what an older child passes on from his mother

We can begin to see some of the danger involved in the dynamics that played out around Jesus during His time on earth as we put ourselves back in His time and in that place. We can be obstinate and raise the hackles on the back of our neck and refuse to believe the Father spoke through Him. We can refuse to believe Jesus is God incarnate who gave Himself for us. We can refuse to trust Him and so suffer the wrath of the Father because of our disobedience. Or we can be obedient children and understand that God sent His Son, Jesus to tell save us from ourselves.

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

What if all this Christianity stuff is just a sham? Some of those early listeners thought it was. Many people today think it is? How do we know it is real?

Scripture

John 8:21, 23-24

Jesus: Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

Devotional

We in the Christian community sometimes scoff at those outside the Christian community and wonder why others can’t see things the way we do. We just don’t understand why something so clear to us is so foreign to everyone else. But we forget that we live on this side of the cross and we have God’s spirit living in us to guide us and teach us His truth.

Perception is real in the mind of those who perceive it

How do we know we are right and others are wrong

Can we trust what Jesus says is true?

What is His word isn’t true and we’re just chasing the wind?

Many have raised that argument over the centuries

God isn’t real

He can’t be seen so how can we know He is there

What makes us think there is a divine being interested in our eternal well being?

Why should we follow His command and His teachings?

Take a look at Jesus’ words and how they fit into history

Same story of man’s salvation handed down from the time of the first sin

Everything pointed toward Jesus

Nothing since the crucifixion and resurrection has refuted His act of salvation

God’s word has stood the test of time

No other book transcribed and translated through centuries without change like God’s word

No other book preserved like God’s word

No other book treasured like God’s word

Testimony of thousands attest to the truth of what He says

What happens if we follow His word as truth and it is not?

We treat each other well

Communities thrive

We live peacefully with other

Conscience clear

Die happier and more content than most people around the world

What happens if we don’t follow His word as truth and it is?

We live only for ourselves

We are at war with others trying to gain things for ourselves

We sin against others and against God

We stand in judgment at the end of life

We suffer eternal judgment apart from Him

It doesn’t take much faith to realize His word is truth

Takes much more faith to think it is not and live apart from Him

If He is the final judge we need to listen to Him since He will determine our final destiny

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

Are you part of an accountability group? Do you have anyone that really knows you and challenges you in your daily journey? How do you find someone like that in your life? One group of men I heard did just that.

Scripture

John 8:19

Jesus: You don’t know the Father or Me. If you knew Me, then you would also know the Father.

Devotional

A few days ago I was listening to a vignette about a men’s group that decided they wanted to become accountable to each other. The short video didn’t explain how the men met or tell much about any common interests that brought them together.

Might have been a Sunday School Class

Might have been a Men’s Bible Study

Might have been neighbors at the time

Might have been co-workers, but probably not

Came several areas of business, some entrepreneurs, some blue collar

Made a commitment to met for support and accountability to each other for the next 20 years

During those twenty years…

One plead guilty to felony charges and spent time in prison

Two lost a child

One when through rehab for drug and alcohol addiction

Three went through divorce

All had major crises in life

All supported each other and helped them through those crises

Seventeen years later

They know each other

No secrets

Nothing off limits in their accountability circle

Grow in their spiritual journey together

Challenge each other in all areas of life

Still committed to life of integrity

Jesus said we don’t know Him or the Father

Maybe it was because they didn’t spend any time with Him

Maybe they thought a superficial relationship would do

How are you, what’s happening, good to see you, kind of relationship

He wants us to commit like these ten men committed to each other

Spend time with Him, get to know Him and make nothing off limits in discussion with Him. He knows anyway.

When we spend time with Him we will get to know Him and when we know Him we will know the Father because they are One. How? I don’t need to understand it, I just need to believe it.

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."

How important is the criteria you use to make decisions, to complete projects, or to make judgments? I hope you said pretty important. If you don’t think so, just listen.

Scripture

John 8:14-18

Jesus: Even if I am making bold claims about Myself—who I am, what I have come to do—I am speaking the truth. You see, I know where I came from and where I will go when I am done here. You know neither where I come from nor where I will go. You spend your time judging by the wrong criteria, by human standards; but I am not here to judge anyone. If I were to judge, then My judgment would be based on truth; but I would not judge anyone alone. I act in harmony with the One who sent Me. Your law states that if the testimonies of two witnesses agree, their testimony is true. Well, I testify about Myself, and so does the Father who sent Me here.

Devotional

Have you ever gone through a bunch of papers or files or closets or drawers looking for something only to find out you were looking for the wrong thing. I have to admit, I’ve done that more than once in my lifetime. In fact, I seem to do it a lot more often that I like. What a waste of time, right?

Look for the receipt from a particular company only to find out it’s the wrong company

Look for an address only to find it’s the wrong person

Look for a tool only to find out it’s the wrong tool for the job

Justice system is sometimes like that

Every crime has a number of elements that must be proven to find a person guilty of that crime.

Unless all are proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury must find not guilty

We get frustrated or angry at verdicts we think are unjust, but those are the criteria we have established to try to keep innocent people from being incarcerated

Jesus’ judgments are perfect

Not based on man’s laws

Based on God’s perfect love

Excludes all evil from the Father’s presence maintains His holiness

Perfect judge, perfect accuser, perfect advocate

He made the rules

We perverted them

He judges with grace, mercy, and love

We judge with vengeance, revenge, and at best justice

Time to follow the perfect One who will judge us at the end of time; He didn’t come to condemn but to save

If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don't, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for "A Little Walk with God."